RIGHTEOUS BUT BARREN
Wednesday, Apr 02 2025
3 min read
RIGHTEOUS BUT BARREN
Rev'd Dr. Bayo Sola Aremu
Luke 1:5-7
”In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”
Today’s text presents to us the story of a godly couple who fully obeyed all the laws and commands of the Lord. They had good standing with God and well commended by men. However,despite their good spiritual profiles, they were barren even until their old age.What a mystery!
Today, we have cases of such people who,as they appear to us,are very fervent and passionate about the things of God.They are children of God but are barren like Zechariah and Elizabeth.Barrenness in this context means lack of productivity and fruitfulness either in marriage,career or in any other area of life. Barrenness is the lack of anything that is called good. To the couple in today’s text,it was childlessness.
One of the lessons we can learn from today’s text is that barrenness does not necessarily come as a result of sin. A childless woman is not necessarily a worst sinner. For example, that a woman is childless does not necessarily mean that she had been wayward or highly promiscuous like people think. Promiscuity is not the only cause of barrenness. This teaches us that it is not everyone who has challenges that is a sinner. One can be righteous, and still have challenges.Apart from this godly couple, Job is another biblical example.He is described as a blameless, upright and a God fearing man who shunned evil,yet he faced serious trial. This is to confirm that not all problems are caused by sin.
Another thing I would love to point your attention to is this general belief that one should relate to God only to benefit from His generosity and providence. From that understanding, the case of this couple becomes an absurdity. Why would God allow such godly people to be childless? We must keep in mind that God understands better; our concern should be to please Him and hold on to His promises in faith. Our faith in God is not and should not be premised only on the material things we can gain from Him. It is His prerogative to do what is best and at the best time. It will be self-serving to make God’s gift a condition for pleasing Him. God cannot be manipulated.
Beloved of God, the righteous can be barren but the righteous cannot and will not continue to be barren. You may be barren today but that will not last too long. God will terminate it as you serve Him selflessly like Zechariah and Elizabeth. Therefore,wait for God and keep on serving Him. Your miracle is on the way.
Prophetic Prayer
I pray for you today:
1. May the Lord terminate every age long problem in your life today in the name of Jesus.
2. Today,every yoke of barrenness is broken upon your life.
3. Receive grace and power for fruitfulness and productivity.
4. Where people mock you,you shall be celebrated, where they relegate you,you shall be upgraded, where they accuse you,you shall be vindicated.
5. Your long years of waiting shall not be a waste.
So shall it be in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Have a nice day.
CHRIST IS THE ANSWER!